Mar 12, 2020

Ft. Myers - Day Eight - Captiva Island

Captiva Island

Captiva Beach

This is another repeat from our last trip and was an amazing, happy accident. Last year Kathy and Pat were planning a day at the beach on Sanibel, and couldn’t find parking at the first few areas, so we just kept driving. We went from Sanibel Island to Captiva Island as we drove, without realizing it, and ended up at a another parking lot - with one spot open.

Turns out it is a famous spot for sunsets, and has a nearly equally famous restaurant, the Mucky Duck just up the beach. Pat found it just wandering along the beach.

We loved it so much, and had such a great time, we wanted to take the kids to the same spot. It is a slow 30+ minute drive, and we got there about 1:30. We needed to wait for a parking spot, but our experience from last year helped us know we just needed to be a little patient and spots would become available. After a 10-15 minute wait, and Kathy needing to have a short conversation with a Minnesota car that blew right past the line of cars waiting, we were set for the day.

The beach was a little crowded, but we found a spot away from people and settled in for a few hours of sunny gulf coast time.

It was a perfect day - sunny but not too hot. Kathy and Jenny enjoyed the surf, while Rob and Pat waded in ankle deep and wandered up and down the beach.

Jenny and Kathy

The Mucky Duck does not take reservations, and people line up 30-45 minutes early to get their name put in for a table. We headed up the beach around 4:00, got some cool drinks and relaxed while we waited to get in line. While we were waiting, we learned that the NCAA basketball tournament had been cancelled, and the rest of Spring Training had been suspended. It turns out we saw the last Twins Spring Training game of the season the day before.

We were very early in line, and got a seat at the front window looking over the patio and beach. Dinner was very good and we all had a great meal and a great time.

Dinner